Spokane Bet Its Future on a Railroad That Hadn't Arrived
A local correspondent complains that roundabout freight makes staple goods cost eight times Milwaukee prices—and predicts the coming Northern Pacific will turn Spokane Falls into a manufacturing power.
Spokane Falls, W.T. — The completion of the Northern Pacific road is anxiously awaited by the people of this growing place. Owing to the round-about way in which freight is brought here, the carrying charges force prices up very high. When the road is completed the merchants of Milwaukee can ship goods to this place for 25 per cent less than the merchants here can afford to sell them, and then make 25 per cent more profit than they can in Milwaukee. The people of Spokane Falls are now obliged to pay $8.00 at retail for goods that can be purchased at retail in Milwaukee for $1.00.
This place is bound to be a thriving business center, owing to its natural advantages. It is admirably located as a distributing point for the Big Bend country of the Columbia River, the Colville country to the north, northern Idaho to the east and the Palouse country to the south. Its splendid water power will no doubt be the nucleus of one of the largest manufacturing cities west of Minneapolis, and the surrounding country is capable of fostering just such a city. There is an abundance of pine lumber and iron hereabouts, which, with business enterprise and shrewd and strong will, will combine to make a large city's prosperity. The expected outlet to eastern markets by way of the Northern Pacific road will be the great stimulant to activity now much needed. From appearances, eastern business men with energy would find this region a good field, as the people do not seem to have the necessary enterprise to push things along as they ought to go.
Without courting the charge of "boom," it can safely be said that the resources of this country are a continual surprise to the new comer. The climate is delightful and the water of the very best. Spokane Falls already boasts of several brick blocks that would do credit to large eastern cities, and when the coming railroad arrives it is expected added impetus will be given to the present growing order of things. — J.T.M., Cor. Evening Press.
“Without courting the charge of "boom," it can safely be said that the resources of this country are a continual surprise to the new comer.”
Spokane's 19th-century boosters sold the town on rail access and cheap freight the way modern civic leaders pitch transit, ports and technology corridors. The promise that one infrastructure project would unlock growth—and the fear that local enterprise was not moving fast enough—still shapes Spokane's economic debates.
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